Imagine, when you are watching Formula 1 live stream, almost 2 billion people from different destinations worldwide doing the same with you. Formula 1 unites the people with one Racing passion. It is more than words because each of the ten Formula 1 teams has about 1000 employees from different locations. They work and live near the team’s headquarters. Moreover, every race week, they gather together for one purpose – to make maximum to win the race. We explored all the F1 teams’ and drivers’ locations worldwide and are happy to share insights on where the current drivers are from and what Racing destinations give them a special feel.
Formula 1 Teams’ and Drivers’ Homes
The current Formula 1 team line-up includes Austrian Red Bull, German Mercedes, Italian Ferrari, AlphaTauri and Alfa Romeo, French Alpine, British McLaren, Williams and Aston Martin, and American Haas teams.
However, it is not easy to determine the F1 team’s location affiliation because each may have the license of one, has the headquarters in second, and has the main sponsor from third countries. However, we tried to figure out the issue.
Red Bull
Founded by Dietrich Mateschitz, Red Bull F1 is the Austrian team that has raced under the country license, but Bull’s headquarters is based in the UK’s Milton Keynes and has more than 30 different sponsors worldwide on their board. It is the most sponsors-attractive brand among the current teams in Formula 1.
Its CEO, Christian Honer, was born in Britain’s Leamington Spa and lives in Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire, just an hour from his workspace.
Red Bull’s driver and three-time champion Max Verstappen was born in Hasselt, Belgium, but he moved long ago and has been living in Monaco since 2015. Verstappen perfectly speaks three languages: his native Dutch, English, and German.
Verstappen has a special feel for Belgium’s Spa-Francorhcamps and Austria’s Red Bull Ring circuits. Difficult Spa track is for skilled drivers only, while the high-paced Red Bull Ring in Austria gives an amazing atmosphere with its orange army fans.
Another Red Bull driver, Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Perez, was born in Guadalajara, Mexico. It is a very authentic and beautiful city. Today, Perez lives with his family in Mexico, but in Puerto Vallarta city. He speaks perfectly his native Spanish and English. As for the iconic destinations, Sergio Perez loves Japan with its legendary Suzuka circuit. It is his favorite race track.
Aston Martin
The Aston Martin is a British F1 team and has a British license. Like Red Bull, the Aston Martin team is based in the UK but in Silverstone, in few steps closer to the Formula 1 British Grand Prix’s circuit. Saudi Aramco is one of the main Aston’s sponsors. The team’s owner, Lawrence Stroll, like his son and one of the current F1 drivers, Lance Stroll are Canadians. Lawrence Stroll lives near the team’s headquarters in London, just 2 hours away.
Born in Montreal, Quebec, Lance Stroll has been living in Geneva since 2010. Aston Martin driver is a polyglot. He speaks English, French, Italian, and Flemish, as he has a Belgian driver’s license. As for special places, Lance Stroll likes Japanese Suzuka. Moreover, he is a fan of Germany’s Nürburgring, which is the most challenging Racing circuit worldwide. Its other name is ‘Green Hell.’
Stroll’s teammate Fernando Alonso is a polyglot even more. He speaks four languages: his native Spanish, English, French, and Italian. Knowing many languages was his need. Thus, he had raced and won two championships with Renault (Alpine), and speaking French was necessary. After switching to the Ferrari, where most talk Italian, Alonso quickly learned a new language, which has many common with his Spanish.
Alonso was born in Oviedo, Spain, but unlike other drivers, even though he has apartments in Monaco, he lives in Dubai and Switzerland. Also, he has a residence near the team’s headquarters in the UK. As for destinations, it is Japan that inspires him the most. He has pointed out many times there are amazing fans, people, and culture. Suzuka Racing circuit is his number one of the top Racing destinations. As for Dubai, he bought the apartments because it helps him prepare for the timezone and fast adapt before races in the east.
Scuderia Ferrari
Despite Frédéric Vasseur, the team chief, being a Frenchman, Scuderia Ferrari is all about Italy. The team has an Italian license and is based in Italian Maranello. Most of their sponsors are from Italy, and Vasseur currently lives in Italy. It is closer to the Ferrari’s headquarters.
Ferrari’s driver, Carlos Sainz, was born and lives with his family in Madrid, Spain. Besides his native Spanish, he also speaks English and Italian. All the people working in Ferrari consider it their duty to know Italian. Sainz loves Belgian Spa-Francorchamps, Japanese Suzuka, and British Silverstone Racing circuits. These are his meaningful places.
Another Ferrari driver and Sainz’s teammate, Charles Leclerc, was born and lives in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Leclerc speaks many languages, such as English, Italian, and French. Alongside Monaco Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore is his favorite destination.
Mercedes
Eight-time constructor’s championship winner Mercedes AMG F1 team is the only German team in Formula 1, based in Brackley, England, and Racing under a German license. Its team principal, Toto Wolff, was born in Vienne, Austria. The billionaire lives in Monaco but rents the apartments near the team’s headquarters.
Mercedes driver George Russell was born in King’s Lynn, England, and currently lives here. However, he also has plans to buy a residence in Monaco. Russell speaks perfectly English, and it is his primary language. As for the destinations, Silverstone tops his favorite places, while Japanese Suzuka, Saudi Jeddah, and Belgian Spa-Franchorchamps complete Russell’s top.
Mercedes star driver and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was born in Stevenage, England. Despite being a frequent guest in Monaco, Hamilton lives in New York City and has apartments in the UK, near the team’s base. Hamilton is not a polyglot and speaks English. However, he is very talented in other areas.
As for meaningful places, Africa was that destination that transformed Lewis because he was impressed with Kenya, Namibia, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Hamilton is a fan of high-passed circuits Silverstone and Monza, which set a special place in his heart.
AlphaTauri
Despite AlphaTauri being Red Bull’s sister, the team races under Italian license and is based in Faenza. The team boss, Franz Tost, was born in and lives with his family in Trins, Austria.
AlphaTauri’s Japanese driver, Yuki Tsunoda, was born in Sagamihara, Japan, but lives near the team’s base in Italy. His trainer is from the UK. They speak English, which is second to Tsunoda’s language, alongside his native Japanese. Tsunoda is a fan of the Suzuka Racing circuit.
Australian Daniel Ricciardo was born in Perth, Australia, and lives primarily in Italy, near the team’s headquarters. Ricciardo has apartment in Los Angeles and in Monaco. Ricciardo speaks English, which is his native language. He loves the glamorous atmosphere of the Monaco Streets alongside the Guia Circuit in Macau.
Alpine
With the main plant in Enstone, England, Alpine F1 team headquarters are based in the UK and France. With a French license, Alpine is part of the French Renault group and owned by the French government.
Alpine driver Esteban Ocon was born in Evreux, France, but he has Algerian roots. Ocon is Lance Stroll’s neighbor as he lives in Geneva, Switzerland. Alongside his native French, Ocon speaks English and Italian. In terms of places that give him a special feel, Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore, Hungaroring in Hungary, and Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal are his favorites.
Ocon’s teammate Pierre Gasly is also French. He was born in Rouen, France, and has lived in Milan, Italy since 2019. It is just an hour from the Alpine’s headquarters. Gasly speaking Italian, French, and English. As for meaningful places, it is Silverstone and Losail International Circuit are his favorite ones.
McLaren
With a British license, the McLaren F1 team is based in Surrey, England, and has many sponsors from the USA.
Its team principal, Andrea Stella, was born in Orvieto, Italy, and lives in Woking. It is just 5 minutes from the team’s base. Mclaren’s Chief Executive Officer, Zak Brown, was born in Los Angeles, California, and currently lives in England.
McLaren’s star Lando Norris was born in Bristol, United Kingdon. He lives near Stella, in Woking, and has been a resident in Monaco since 2022. Norris holds both British and Belgian citizenship. Therefore, besides his native English, he speaks Flemish. So they are on the vibe with Max Verstappen. British Silverstone and Japanese Suzuka are the iconic destinations for Norris.
Norris’ teammate for McLaren, Oscar Piastri, was born in Melbourne, Australia, but was forced to reside in London. It is just 1h30 minutes near the team’s headquarters. Piastri speaks Italian, French, and English. He fully shares Norris’ passion for Silverstone and Suzuka.
Alfa Romeo
With an Italian license, Alfa Romeo is an Italian team but it is based in Hinwil, Zürich, Switzerland. The team principal, Alessandro Alunni Bravi, was born in Umbertide, Italy, and currently lives near the team headquarters in Switzerland.
Alfa Romeo driver Valtteri Bottas was born in Nastola, Finland, and currently lives in Port Hercule, Monaco, but he is frequently a guest in Helsinki. He speaks perfectly Finnish and English. Bottas likes British Silverstone, but Marina Bay in Singapore is his favorite.
Botas’s teammate and the only Chinese driver in Formula 1’s history, Zhou Guanyu, was born in Shanghai, China. Guanyu lives in Sheffield, England. It is a two-hour plane to the team’s base. Alongside English, Guanyu speaks difficult languages: Mandarin and Cantonese. Chinese driver has a special feel for the British Silverstone.
Williams
With Racing under the British license, Williams is a British Formula 1 team and it is based in Grove, Oxfordshire, England. James Vowles, the team principal, was born in Felbridge, United Kingdom, and lives in Oxford, just 40 minutes from William’s base.
Williams driver Alex Albon was born in London, England, but he has Thai roots. Albon lives in Monaco and speaks English primarily. He has a special feel for Thailand and Japanese Suzuka.
Another Wiliams driver, Logan Sargeant, is American. He was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, but moved to hold closer to the team. Therefore, he has been living with his family in Lugano, Switzerland for more than ten years. Sargeant loves Watkins Glen, Laguna Seca, and Macau, but Silverstone is his top.
Haas
With Racing under an American license, the Haas F1 team has two headquarters: main in Kannapolis, North Carolina, United States, and one in Banbury, England. Team owner Gene Haas was born in Youngstown, Ohio, and lives in California. The team principal, Guenther Steiner, was born in Merano, Italy, and lives in Mooresville, North Carolina, neighbors with the team’s headquarters. As a small team, Haas is always searching for new investments. Thus, Russian Uralkali had been the team’s sponsor for two years.
Haas driver Kevin Magnussen was born in Roskilde, Denmark, and currently lives in Copenhagen but rents the apartments near the team’s headquarters in London. Magnussen speaks Dutch, English, and German. However, British Silverstone, Japanese Suzuka, and Hungarian Hungaroring are his favorite destinations on the Formula 1 map worldwide.
Another Haas driver, Nico Hülkenberg, was born in Emmerich am Rhein, Germany, but he lives in Monte Carlo, Monaco. He speaks two languages: German and English. Among all the places, Hülkenberg likes the Circuit of the Americas in Texas, while Suzuka leads his top.
Why the most F1 drivers prefer Monaco?
Perhaps the case is that popular drivers, rich and famous move to Monte Carlo and their nearby areas due to the luxury, but living in Monaco has many advantages. However, as it is not the logo ‘go to Monaco,’ here are the insights.
- Luxury. It is what it is, and why not? Monte Carlo is an expensive city. However, with almost 40,000 people, Monaco is the second-smallest country after Vatikan. Overall it looks like one big countryside with one point; it is rich and luxurious. Therefore, it is attractive to athletes, actors, and billionaires worldwide.
- Location. Monaco’s location is so perfect that it is easy and fast to fly to any team’s base, whether England, Germany, Italy, or France, the flight takes no more than 3 hours 30 min. As for the F1 drivers, who have to travel every week, it is the best option to win the time.
- Taxes. Monaco had long been considered a tax haven, where rich persons like our drivers, being citizens and making 75% or more of their profits within the country, were tax-exempt. However, the situation has changed as the EU and OECD removed it from the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions.
Why do most of F1 teams prefer England?
Most F1 teams are based in the UK, and that is for a reason. First, it comes from the history. After WWII, many airfields were the perfect base for motor Racing development. For example, the iconic Silverstone was born as the airfield and opened in 1943. With closing in 1960, it drew the attention of something new – the Formula 1 track. Moreover, let’s keep in mind Formula 1, as a sport, was born in England.
Secondly, motorsport is a highly expensive sport. Finding the new tracks and moving to new locations cost a pretty penny for teams. Therefore, it is simpler not to complicate it, but to keep the existing infrastructure and spend money more effectively.
Third is the destinations. As Formula 1 is heading to extend its calendar more and more and has kept the focus on twenty-five races per year, teams have to travel a lot. If employees traveling is a common thing, what to do with cars or car parts? It starts the logistical problems and new extra costs for the team. Ideally, the team has to base at a point where it will be easy, fast, and cheap to transfer to any point of Formula 1’s destinations, and the UK suits the goal in the best way.
Takeaways
Formula 1 unites the drivers, the people from different locations; this sport unites the world. It doesn’t matter where are you from, because you can watch or attend the the Grand Prix. The employees of the team are living in different destination points, but all together work at maximum for the team.
Moreover, a career in Formula 1 requires to drivers leave their comfort zone to work closely near the team’s headquarters. But among all the destinations, most of them prefer to live in Monaco. The simple answer is it helps to cut the time to travel and to reduce expenses because of the tax policy in the principality.
Among all the destination points of Formula 1, most drivers love Japanese Suzuka, Hungaroring, Silverstone, and Monza. These special places touch the driver’s hearts with the amazing atmosphere, the high-paced circuits, and the breathtaking battle at the track.
#Special #Places #Teams #Drivers
More Stories
Marini bemused by his Honda MotoGP pace in 2024 – but just how bad is it?
Norris changed car balance to “kill the fronts” in bid to catch Verstappen
Thailand’s F1 GP bid moves forward as PM visits Imola